Special Envoy for Global Food Security Dr. Cary Fowler

We know that the current pace of incremental change in crop yields is going to leave us far short by 2050. We need to act boldly. We need some game changing developments in agriculture and food security. U.S. Department of State, The Rockefeller Foundation, African Union, FAO, AGRA, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), CGIAR, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Feed the Future

The Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (#VACS) will be discussed at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16Riyadh). We'll be there with many of our partners to talk "Our Land. Our Future." Stay tuned.

#VACS in Honduras! We are making significant progress with #SoilFER, building and strengthening national capacities on soil analysis: Launch of the National Soil Laboratories Network of Honduras (@HONSOLAN), Soils health and data management personnel hired, Establishment of the National Soil Partnership (HSP) and the Soil Conservation Law, Evaluation of 6 national laboratories, Data sharing on over 6000 soil sampling sites, and more to come! FAO, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Laura Suazo

Thank you, Ambassador Terry Branstad for your exemplary commitment and stewardship at the World Food Prize Foundation, and throughout your distinguished public service career. Congratulations Mashal Husain! Inspiring to see your leadership and vision rewarded. Well-deserved, and looking forward to the incredible milestones yet to come! https://lnkd.in/e8Ah2HAz

The stream [ https://lnkd.in/eaMKQGna ] for the U.S. Center in #Baku at #COP29 goes live on November 19, 16:45 local time. Important conversations on investing in healthy soils, and more! https://lnkd.in/eDhGuKD6

A VACS Champion leading by empowering female smallholder farmers in #Kenya, #SouthSudan, and #Ethiopia! Alabaster International develops nutritious, climate-resilient, and diverse crops for marginalized and drought-prone communities. Their work addresses food insecurity fueled by climate change and they are on the front lines combating famine conditions. We welcome Alabaster as a VACS Champion and appreciate their collaboration with Arba Minch University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), as well as the Girl Child Network Kenya. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), FAO, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Patrese Anderson, Anna Merrall Nelson?

Introducing Dr. Aristide Carlos Houdegbe, African Vegetables Breeding Program Lead with the Genetics, Biotechnology & Seed Science Unit, University of Abomey-Calavi in #Benin. He is a member of the VACS Amaranth Breeding Consortium and is actively breeding new varieties of amaranth, okra, sesame, and spider plant - what we call opportunity crops. Dr. Houdegbe participated in the "Crops that Nourish" workshop in Washington, DC organized by Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), U.S. Department of State, Office of the Special Envoy for Global Food Security Dr. Cary Fowler, and USAID.

Sharing a piece by VACS Champion Global Child Nutrition Foundation. Francis Mwanza discusses the nutritional and climate-resilient opportunities when we incorporate local, traditional crops into school meal programs. Sorghum, finger millet, cowpeas, pigeon pea, amaranth, cleome, African eggplant, spider plant, Hibiscus, Bambara groundnuts, Horned melon, blackjack and marama beans - the list goes on. Give it a read. What do you think? https://lnkd.in/e2pfDBjC

ICYMI: We celebrated crop diversity in #Iowa at this year's Borlaug Dialogue, including the 20th Anniversary of the Crop Trust. Established to safeguard the world's food security, the Crop Trust ensures plant breeders, researchers and farmers have options to adapt crops to changing environmental and social conditions.?Check out the history of one of our key partners for the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils. https://lnkd.in/eTYh4rYq ...as well as their readout from the conference. https://lnkd.in/e3FWPcBY

In #Malawi, we are collaborating with farmers, NGOs, the private sector, and government officials to improve food systems with crop diversity and soil health management. For example, we are strengthening the land with leguminous trees like moringa, which help prevent soil erosion. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Bertha Kadeka Jere